InsideTrack to provide pro-bono student success coaching to help FosterClub bridge the college achievement gap among foster children
PORTLAND, OR (April 13, 2017)
FosterClub, a national network for foster youth, announced a new partnership today with student success coaching leader InsideTrack to help close college attendance and achievement gaps among foster youth and children.
The coaching initiative bridges the period between emancipation and college, where many foster youth abandon education due to a lack of support and guidance. It then continues to support them through their first year of postsecondary education to ensure they make a successful transition. A professional InsideTrack coach works with each student to assist them in planning for their future, selecting the right college and building the skills needed for long-term academic and career success.
Research shows significant achievement gaps among foster youth. According to the most recent data, of the approximately 400,000 children in foster care, approximately nine percent become emancipated each year, either by completing their high school diploma or reaching the age of 18. But the odds are stacked against these individuals: nationally, only 10% will attend college and only 3% will graduate.
Often, students in the foster care system lack the support and advice from family members that other college-goers receive. To help these students navigate the complexity of college and beat the odds, FosterClub partnered with fellow Oregon-based InsideTrack. InsideTrack has spent more than 15 years supporting underrepresented students in higher education, including many formerly engaged in the foster system.
“Moving from high school to college is a hard transition for many students, but even more so for youth recently emancipated from the foster system,” said Celeste Bodner, Executive Director of FosterClub. “We’re fortunate that a leading student success organization like InsideTrack is focused on this issue and donating their time and expertise to supporting these deserving individuals.”
The FosterClub coaching initiative is part of InsideTrack’s broader civic engagement program, which includes company-organized volunteer days and individual paid time off for employees engaged in volunteer activities.
“InsideTrack’s mission is to unlock human potential and opportunity, regardless of an individual’s background or circumstance,” said Pete Wheelan, CEO of InsideTrack. “We are grateful and humbled to partner with FosterClub in support of their mission to help foster youth achieve their full potential in college, career and community.“
The program is currently providing coaching to twelve students who are in their final months of high school with plans to attend college in the fall. Using InsideTrack’s proven coaching methodology, resources, technology and tools, coaches are providing highly personalized support as these students define their goals, identify potential barriers, and develop a plan to persist through challenges and take ownership of their learning.
The two organizations are currently exploring expansion of the program.
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About FosterClub
FosterClub is dedicated to providing a peer support network for children and youth in foster care. Further, we believe the experiences young people have in foster care place them in a position to affect change within the system, inform and motivate their peers, build public awareness and create public will for improved care for abused and neglected children.
For more information please visit www.fosterclub.com.
About InsideTrack
InsideTrack is passionate about student success. Since 2001, we have been dedicated to partnering with colleges and universities to create adaptive coaching solutions that generate measurable results. These solutions combine professional coaching, technology and data analytics to increase enrollment, completion, and career readiness. Our adaptive coaching methodology is based on the latest behavioral science research and knowledge gained from working with more than 1.5 million students and 1,600 programs. In combination with our uCoach® Platform, our approach optimizes student engagement and generates valuable insights on the student experience through predictive modeling, behavioral analysis and multichannel communication. Join us and the leading institutions, foundations and others working to bring the transformative power of education to all individuals. Visit us at www.insidetrack.com and follow us on Twitter @InsideTrack.